birthday decorations?

[kdtwiss]

OK, I read in another thread how some resorts will decorate a room if you tell them it is your child's birthday. We will be going to Disney our first time!! for our ds' 7th bday. We are staying at POR and I was wondering do you think they would do anything like that? My ds would be soooo excited (and so would I) Also I have seen conflicting advice about when/how to make requests like that as well as building preference etc. When and how is the proper way to do this? Some say fax others say faxes go in the trash. Any advice would be appreciated!!

On a side note my little 6 year old soon to be 7 year old peanut tried the trapeze swing last night - I am so proud of him - looking like he may conquer some of his fears and enjoy Disney so much! Had to share! Hope you don't mind! I would NEVER do a trapeze swing - way too chicken!

 

[bavaria]

This 30-something got a balloon and card signed by the characters in her room - I didn't ask, but my friend gave me a bday gift early (about 2 days early, since a hurricane was coming!) and I left it in the room while we went out. The room attendant must have seen the 'happy birthday' on the bag and arranged my surprise!

 

[bavaria]

By the way, that was at POR. I DID metion it to the CM when I booked my room, since he asked why I was going to Disney, and I said that I try and spend my bday every year there. But it wasn't him who arranged it, since it was a few days early. (He asked for the exact date)

That's why I give the room attendant credit!

 

[kdtwiss]

that's so nice - pixie dust for you huh? Hope we can be that lucky - I understand having something sent to the room for your arrival date is something only deluxe resorts offer - any truth to that?

PS - how do you like POR?
It seems my best bet for central location to pool is AB #14 - what do you think?
We need AB as we have need for the trundle! TIA

 

[weluvpluto]

My DH told them at check-in when we there for my birthday - on my birthday there was a balloon and card left from Pooh and friends - I guess they asked him my favorite character

 

[Janet2k]

OK, I read in another thread how some resorts will decorate a room if you tell them it is your child's birthday.

Kdtwiss, my family has been vacationing in WDW for years. We have celebrated many birthdays and many anniversaries there. As it should be, I was the one who planned the birthday and anniversary surprises. We have celebrated at the Luau, the Hoop-Dee-Doo, various character breakfasts/lunches/dinners both inside and outside the theme parks, and so on. Since I planned everything, all the surprises came off without a hitch and no one was disappointed that something didn't happen.

To make certain that your child has a wonderful birthday, please consider contacting the Disney Florist (click here) and placing an order for a gift basket and balloons. We have used the Disney Florist a few times and have always been pleased with their service (we have also been on the receiving end of their work, most recently for our wedding anniversary last October).

You can also order a birthday cake for your child through any number of Disney resorts and restaurants. The cakes are yummy and not too expensive. There are other dessert items that you may order, too.

If you feel like doing something really fun, consider booking a speciality cruise: click here. You can arrange for certain food & beverage items to be served during your birthday cruise. The cruises are wonderful.

Consider letting your child celebrate by partaking in any number of children's-only activities (that way he could hang out with his peers and make a few new friends, which is always fun for someone his age). Click here to view a list of children's activities.

Have a wonderful vacation in WDW. And I hope your son has a birthday to remember. Seven is always a very lucky number.

 

[Janet2k]

Since you are fairly new to the Dis, I thought I should share with you some photographs of a few of the children's activities:
Grand Adventures In Cooking
Pirates Cruise
Wonderland Tea Party

I wrote about those activities in a trip report last year -- click here. On pages 4 & 5 (I think) the activities were described in my daughter's own words.

 

[bavaria]

I always love POR, and stay at both parts of the resort. I like building 15 in AB since it's a little tucked away but still very close to the main building.

'Surprises' don't just come at the deluxe resorts. WL once sent me a card since I was ill.

I agree that if you really want to guarantee something arrives, make arrangements to purchase something. I was not very impressed with the Mickey cake purchased for me at Poly by my friends, but that's a personal choice. (I was much happier with the piece of red velvet cake that I snagged from POFQ the afternoon of one of the hurricanes - I ventured out before we were 'released' and found the food court open, so bought myself a piece of birthday cake. My friends were all at the GF, and I celebrated my bday along at POR during the hurricane!)

Assuming that you will receive something for free for a birthday may not work. I am sure that a LOT of ppl are celebrating birthdays/honeymoons/anniversarys etc at any given time at WDW, so they can't give out free things to everyone - it's more a pixie dust type of thing where someone wants to delight unexpectedly.

You could also create something special - check out the bargain store in DTD for instance. I collected various items throughout the week for my little 3yo friend, and then put it all in a Disney backpack for her. Also arranged for Princess Minnie to be sent to her room.

 

[Janet2k]

Kdtwiss, I just posted a link to my Pop Century photos in another thread. In that particular photo album were a few photos of one of the Disney Florist gift baskets that my family has received while vacationing in WDW. This particular gift basket was from a fellow Dis'er during last May's vacation. The gift basket came with Mickey balloons. Everything was beautifully put together:
Photo # 1
Photo # 2

 

[kdtwiss]

thank you so much everyone!!
I have booked a fireworks cruise AND a pirate cruise! I am soooo excited~

I am looking into all the other options as well - thank you all so much! I truly appreciate the time you took to answer my questions!

 

[hezreck]

We stayed at AKL for my DD 7th birthday. I told them when I booked that it was her Birthday and it was on the reservation sheet. I also told them the day before at the front desk too. Nothing!! No card or anything. I was really hoping for something, since I had heard so many people say they had gotten a card or balloons. Luckily I had brought some little things and I told her Tink had left them for her birthday. Just letting you know, that you don't always get any special things on birthdays.

 

[kandeebunny]

When making the reservation tell them it's a birthday, they will note it, then when you arrive remind them again!

Also when you go to whichever park on his b-day go to guest relations and get him a birthday button! You never know what surprises that will bring!

 

[Cameo]

I would suggest decorating yourself. We stayed at the Beach Club for my DD's 6th birthday and although they knew it was her birthday and asked at check-in who her favorite character was, we didn't receive anything special in the room. We decorated with balloons and streamers one night after she went to sleep. I assume they had intentions of giving her something special but it fell through the cracks. Just be prepared that anything "free" is never guaranteed. Who knows, maybe someone called in sick or a schedule was misplaced. The only way to guarantee something is to order it yourself. Have fun!!

 

[safetymom]

If you really want something for the room arrange and pay for it yourself. Yes many may report that they received something but the majority don't get anything in the room. If you go expecting something and it isn't there you will be dissapointed.

So many people go to WDW to celebrate a special occasion they can't do it for everyone.

 

[studog100]

We were there last week and when I told them we were there for my DS 4th b-day they offered a signed picture of his fav character. The next day we had a picture of Goofy signed and wishing him a magical birthday slid under the door. We also stayed at POR Riverside by the way!!
Best of luck

 

[Janet2k]

I have booked a fireworks cruise AND a pirate cruise! I am soooo excited~

I truly appreciate the time you took to answer my questions!

Kdtwiss, I'm glad that you have taken fate into your own hands and have arranged for your son's birthday surprises. I'm sure he'll have a birthday to remember. Make sure to take lots of photos to remember it by.

 

[coinkc]

We were at Pop Century for my daughter's 8th birthday last summer. After she went to bed, I sat in the bathroom and blew up balloons until I ran out of breath! then I climbed all over the beds to hang streamers from the ceiling...it was quite the spectacle! anyway, the whole room was decorated when she woke up and it was great! The Mousekeeper took all the balloons and some extra streamers I had left over and decorated the window of our room while we were gone that day.

The day AFTER her birthday, she got balloons and a card from Cinderella...guess they were running behind that week so I was really glad that I had done something myself. we also did an Illuminations cruise that night and she got to drive the boat which was really fun!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Kdtwiss, my family has been vacationing in WDW for years. We have celebrated many birthdays and many anniversaries there. As it should be, I was the one who planned the birthday and anniversary surprises. We have celebrated at the Luau, the Hoop-Dee-Doo, various character breakfasts/lunches/dinners both inside and outside the theme parks, and so on. Since I planned everything, all the surprises came off without a hitch and no one was disappointed that something didn't happen.
QUOTE]

So glad you mentioned this, Janet! I once booked AKL concierge specifically because I was going to celebrate my birthday, and had read all this stuff about AKL CL being the BEST about birthdays....it was what motivated me to go for this particular concierge! I wasn't expecting a card or balloons or anything, but I thought the CMs would say happy birthday at some point since we were used to friendly CMs on regular occasions at other resort concierges. Well, nothing happened. No one ever said anything. It would have been so much better if I hadn't expected anyone to notice it was my birthday--I would have made other plans to feel "special" around WDW. Next time, I will definitely book a cruise or something and go back to my favorite deluxe hotel to celebrate Being at GF is like having your birthday all the time

 

[bavaria]

Safetymom, good advice as always.

This 30-something got a card at POR, but the 3yo with us didn't get zip at GF 2 days later on HER birthday....

 

[Nik's Mom]

You may want to send a pm (private message) to our very own feralpeg. She does beautiful gift baskets and has lots of themes to choose from. My DS's are both pirates fans, so she is doing a pirates of the carribbean themed basket with a stuffed pirate Mickey and Pluto. The gift baskets are loaded with candy too!